God’s ultimate purpose in all things revolves around His Son: having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him. (Eph. 1:9-10, NKJV) The Son of God, Himself, is the final and complete revelation of God (Heb.... Read more

… I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.  Acts 26:19 Paul had a ‘heavenly vision’. But there are those who ‘… speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord’ (Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV). So you must be sure you are operating according to God’s plan, not your own nor somebody else’s. The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us two things. First, that when people make up their mind to do something, they... Read more

God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making you more like Him than He is in making your life happy. We can be happy here on earth, but that’s not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor, before God and man. All things, even the toughest of things work together for good towards the goal. The goal is Christ-likeness Read more

We welcome home those that have lost their way by embracing and loving them. We meet their needs by feeding them, clothing them, and making them our honored guests. We do not demand explanations on why they left, but show our joy that they are with us again. Love and forgiveness from the heart allows for the past to be wiped clean. What counts is the here and now, in the homecoming of our brothers and sisters. Read more

When we abide and are at “home” with God as His children, what then? As His eternal children we become like Father and become fathers ourselves. Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers. Growing up and becoming like God is seeking to live His perfect standards of love and compassion, by His Spirit. We must fin and welcome home our lost brothers and sisters in the way our Father welcomed us home. Read more

Going home is a lifelong journey. Home is where the heart is, and it is who we are in eternity now and eternity’s future. Along the way there are parts of ourselves that wander off or get stuck from truly “being” home. At times we can truly feel lost or alone. Even when home seems far off, Jesus walks and talks with us on the way. If we listen carefully, we will find that we are already home while on... Read more

Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow Him. We do not need to look for it as it is a part of our life in this world. But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross? Maybe it is a health or family conflict to no choice of our own. Freedom comes through Christ for many burdens, and there will always be challenges in this life, but we can take up these... Read more

Sunday, August 15, 2010 Shared Life in Strength and Weakness by Robert Ricciardelli Do not share in someone’s strength, if you are unwilling to cover their weaknesses. That is not relationship, does not promote goodwill or community, and most of all, does not please God. What pleases God is our love for one another in action, and in promoting life in one another. That we do draw off each others strengths but also cover each others short comings. We do... Read more

1 Corinthians 7:1-5   –  Instruction on Marriage 1Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life.[a] 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over... Read more

Do not share in someone’s strength, if you are unwilling to cover their weaknesses. That is not relationship, does not promote goodwill or community, and most of all, does not please God. What pleases God is our love for one another in action, and in promoting life in one another. That we do draw off each others strengths but also cover each others short comings. We do not quit each other, and seek restoration and healing when a brother falls. Read more